Quilting with disabilities

[Patti P.]

Sue, I think as you read you'll see alot of us are picking up momentum from each other. This is a very motivating sight and when we get on a roll it does good things for the morale and can't hurt the body (usually lol).

[Eileen K.]

Hi Sue,
Just take it one project at a time. If you've watched the show, then you know we've been given permission to not finish every quilt :wink: :lol: If you look at it and say "What was I thinking?" then you can put that one aside.
We're all here to support each other, especially in this particular forum. Feel free to vent whenever you need to.
eileenkny

[Eileen K.]

I had never really thought of being disabled until basically this past year even though I suffered total paraysis at age 10 (1958). It was weeks before a diagnosis but finally Gillian Barre Syndrone had taken over my life. As weeks past by the paralysis left leaving only my left side of my body not working properly. Even still I leaned how to sew, embroider, crochet, knit and most anything I wanted to do in life. I just had to do it my way! I married John who was in the USAF so traveled with him plus raised 2 kids. As years have passed my disabilty has been mainly fatigue. My Dr was treating me for fibermyalgae but retired and my new Dr says she doesn't consider it a disease so here I go again. To help my quilting I did find in cutting fabric I use the Alto Cutting Board and love it. I may have to think of a different way of doing a project but I'll figure it out. You just can't give up. I agree it was easier when I was younger and is harder now especially this year after suffering a compressed and fractured L2 vertabrae. Still have a hard time sitting a long time plus didn't help my walking. John and I still ride our copper/black Harley and you'll never guess who rides on the back rack........of course-the Pink Energizer Bunny I can relate to the little guy!!
Happy Quilting
Patty
East TN

[Eileen K.]

Well I just thought I would tell you all what I say to people what I say when people tell me that I don't look sick or that I seem fine to them. I tell them " THANK GOD BECAUSE IF I LOOKED LIKE I FELT THEYED BE GIVING ME LAST RIGHTS, PICKING OUT A BOX, AND DIGGING A WHOLE. I GUESS IT'S A GOOD THING I WEAR MAKE UP!" :shock: Either that or I say "I try to act the way I want to feel that way maybe one day they will match each other" :P After all if we acted the way we felt no one would like us and we never would have fun :!:

[Eileen K.]

[b]AMEN!!!!!!

I have fibromyalgia, work a 40 hour work week, do a yoga class 2 or 3 times a week, quilt etc... and people always say if you can do that you aren't sick.

I always say "can you imagine what I could do if I felt GREAT?" because if I didn't get exercise and get outta the house all I would see is the inside of a factory and the inside of my house. Been there, done that. Doesn't make for a happy Jeannie.

Besides if you don't move it , you lose it! :lol:

Jean in a cool Windsor, ON

[Patti P.]

Amen to you girls, Rachel and Jean. I'm discovering a surprising negative reaction at my job to my wheelchair. I wish these folks could have the benefit of being a newcomer to see how they create such a negative atmosphere at this office. It's incredible how much nitpicking and backbiting goes on to make sure no one gets something better.

[Annette R.]

PATTI , do not allow anyone to put you down at work because of needing a wheelchair or anyother adaptive device. Just remind them that the American's with Disabilities Act requires that your employer allows for "reasonable accomodation" and a wheelchair that you provide is definitely a reasonable accomodation because it costs your employer nothing.

Good luck at going back to work, I am sure it is difficult but don't let the nay sayers get you down. Do what you need to, but take care of yourself. Not only is it good for you, but it is your right.

Ann

[Patti P.]

Yeah it's been a real surprise to me, I never expected people to make snide remarks. I was prepared with all my one liners to make people comfortable thru humor. They all saw me crawling in every day struggling to walk. I sure didn't expect some people trying to put me down for getting a good chair. You could have knocked me over with a feather. But then of course I wouldn't have fallen over cause of the chair lol!

[Sandy F.]

The workplace is just like high school, cliches, backstabbing, etc. Before my coworker retired on disability everything that was done to make the workplace easier for her was resented by someone. Something as simple as a parking place close to the building, moving her office to the first floor from the third floor (no elevator) was gossiped about. If they had to walk a mile in your shoes I'm sure things would be different.

[nancy r.]

I feel for those of you with degenerative disc disease, and arthritis... I also suffer from both, but am very lucky to have a very high pain tolerance. My main disability is my eyes, I have retinitis pigmentosa which has robbed me of my peripheral vision and most of my central they say I have about 1% of my vision left. This mostly came about since I was in my late forties. I feel very blessed, this disease occurs usually much earlier in childhood, so I have had many great sighted years. I love to quilt I do so everyday... I do so with the help of magnifiers attached to my sewing machine. It is a challenge everyday, but what is life without challanges. I am 50 now, a full time student at UWF, working on a Masters in Psychology and a BFA... I am hoping to be able to continue working once I finish these programs. I taught Dental Assisting for many years, and was not able to continue with that career due to my eyes. I am now hoping to become an Art Therapist, helping others to overcome obstacles that they face in their life through art. I wish everyone pain free quilting. Keep on stitching it's good for the soul!!!! sorry for the large print only way I can see

[nancy r.]

Well, I'm not sure if breast cancer is considered a "disability", but I certainly feel as if it is one at the moment. Like many of you have shared, my quilting and life in general has been seriously altered. And although I don't have a "physical" disability per se as far as a back, legs, arms, whatever, I do have an "energy" and an "emotional" disability. And like one of you said, life will never be "normal" again (whatever normal is). I go in for a bilateral mastectomy on Sept 4, 2007, and my life will never be the same again.....nor has it been. My activities have diminished because of the chemotherapy, but I'm still active in my bee, in taking some classes, and in monthly block of the months, but at a MUCH slower pace.

Amazing how this new elements in our lives force us to slow down and look at things from an entirely different perspective, isn't it?

Michelle

Michelle, my thoughts and prayers are with you. You are correct slowing down does make us look at things from a different perspective. Keep well , and enjoy each day...

[nancy r.]

Hi Everyone! What a place to find! I'm almost 70, and have degenrative spinal disease since I was 22. I am now the caregiver for my husband who's needs vary, but right now he is doing very well. Myself, I determined early on that I was going to wring from life what I could, and be dammed with the pain. So I learned how far I could push and when I needed to take an entire day in bed and to enjoy both. I get help for the depression, both meds and a therapyst. So I can no longer quilt 16 hours in a row, but am working on getting 2 or more 2 hour sessions per day. And I continue to build my stash of batiks. I enjoy looking at them!

[Deborah W.]

I haven't seen this thread before but can sure identify with the comments. My husband has been ill for 20 years and people can definitely be closed minded and cruel with their comments--he is disabled and had to quit work so that has been very difficult. I know it has made me much more sensitive to other people andI have learned that we all have things we must overcome in life. I also try to keep from being critical as what is happening to people is not always visible to the eye. I hope each of you have someone in your life who encourages you and helps keeps you going.

[Eileen K.]

I am blessed to have the most understanding and supportive husband in the world. He has put up with so much in the last 5 years and most of it without complaining. Yup, he's a keeper

[Annette R.]

I started this thread as its own topic and am so happy to see people posting again. There are so many different disabilities that can interfere or make our lives and in particular our quilting lives more difficult. Six years ago the doctors said I had a 50/50 chance. 50% dead/ 50% paralyzed from the waist down. I am neither today. I have problems and stamina issues but I continue to do what I want to do when I want to. I accomplish a lot these days. But I know that support from my friends and other quilters is extremely important so please keep on posting on this thread. Hugs to all, Ann